Imaging device

Abstract

Provided is an imaging device capable of adaptively acquiring a captured image according to an imaging condition. An imaging device ( 1 ) according to an embodiment includes: an imaging unit ( 10 ) that includes a pixel array ( 110 ) including a plurality of pixel groups each including N×N pixels ( 100 ) (N is an integer of 2 or more), and outputs a pixel signal read from each pixel; and a switching unit ( 14 ) that switches a reading mode in which the pixel signal is read from each of the pixels by the imaging unit, in which the switching unit switches the reading mode between an addition mode in which the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in the pixel group are added to form one pixel signal and an individual mode in which each of the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in the pixel group is individually output.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An imaging device comprising:
 an imager that includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel groups each including N×N pixels (N is an integer of 2 or more); 
 a memory storing a program; and 
 a processor configured to execute the program to perform operations comprising: 
 switching a reading mode in which pixel signals are respectively read from each of the pixels of the pixel array, the switching of the reading mode switching between an addition mode and an individual mode, wherein 
 in the addition mode the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in each of the pixel groups are added to form one pixel signal, 
 in the individual mode each of the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in each of the pixel groups is individually output, and 
 the switching of the reading mode is on a basis of vehicle information of a vehicle, the vehicle information including a speed of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle information includes a brightness around the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle information includes a brightness around the vehicle, and the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode to the individual mode in a case where the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value and the brightness around the vehicle is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value. 
     
     
       4. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode according to a region of a frame image based on the pixel signal. 
     
     
       5. The imaging device according to  claim 4 , wherein the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode to the individual mode for a predetermined region at a central portion of the frame image and switching the reading mode to the addition mode for a region other than the predetermined region of the frame image. 
     
     
       6. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode on a basis of an object included in a frame image based on the pixel signal. 
     
     
       7. The imaging device according to  claim 6 , wherein in a case where a specific object is included in the frame image, the switching of the reading mode includes performing switching of the reading mode for a specific region including the specific object in the frame image and a region other than the specific region. 
     
     
       8. The imaging device according to  claim 7 , wherein the imager is mounted on the vehicle, and the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode to the individual mode for the specific region including the specific object, the specific object being at least one of a traffic light, a traffic sign, an oncoming vehicle, or a pedestrian. 
     
     
       9. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching of the reading mode switches the reading mode by controlling reading of the pixel array. 
     
     
       10. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching of the reading mode switches the reading mode by controlling image processing for the pixel signals output by the imager. 
     
     
       11. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 combining a first image based on a first pixel signal from a pixel that is exposed for a first exposure time and a second image based on a second pixel signal from the pixel that is exposed for a second exposure time following the exposure performed for the first exposure time. 
 
     
     
       12. The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the pixel array, 
 the plurality of pixel groups include:
 a first pixel group that receives light transmitted through a first optical filter; 
 a second pixel group that receives light transmitted through a second optical filter; and 
 a third pixel group that receives light transmitted through a third optical filter, and 
 the first pixel group, the second pixel group, and the third pixel group are arranged so that different pixel groups among the first pixel group, the second pixel group, and the third pixel group are adjacent to each other. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The imaging device according to  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 performing remosaic processing of converting each pixel included in each of the first pixel group, the second pixel group, and the third pixel group into a pixel having a characteristic corresponding to a position of each pixel in a case where the reading mode is the individual mode. 
 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for processing pixel signals of an imager that includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel groups each including N×N pixels (N is an integer of 2 or more), the program being executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:
 switching a reading mode in which the pixel signals are respectively read from each of the pixels of the pixel array, the switching of the reading mode switching between an addition mode and an individual mode, wherein 
 in the addition mode the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in each of the pixel groups are added to form one pixel signal, 
 in the individual mode each of the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in each of the pixel groups is individually output, and 
 the switching of the reading mode is on a basis of vehicle information of a vehicle, the vehicle information including a speed of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 14 , wherein the vehicle information includes a brightness around the vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 14 , wherein the vehicle information includes a brightness around the vehicle, and the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode to the individual mode in a case where the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value and the brightness around the vehicle is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 14 , wherein the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode according to a region of a frame image based on the pixel signal. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode to the individual mode for a predetermined region at a central portion of the frame image and switching the reading mode to the addition mode for a region other than the predetermined region of the frame image. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 14 , wherein the switching of the reading mode includes switching the reading mode on a basis of an object included in a frame image based on the pixel signal. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein in a case where a specific object is included in the frame image, the switching of the reading mode includes performing switching of the reading mode for a specific region including the specific object in the frame image and a region other than the specific region.